The next day.

Nigel rubbed his bleary eyes and barely managed to get up as the sunlight penetrated through the window.

After the conversation with Allen the day before, he couldn’t focus on studying all day, and this state continued throughout the night, allowing him to fall asleep just before sunrise.

“… I’m glad today isn’t Monday.”

On weekdays, class times were the same for all students, so it was impossible for him to avoid Allen and Noah even if he tried.

But weekends were a different story.

Noah was participating in Roneh’s special training all day today, so as long as Nigel didn’t go to the training grounds, he was fine. And it was obvious where Allen would be, so he only needed to avoid a few places.

With dark circles under his eyes, Nigel piled up textbooks and reference books like a mountain on the library desk.

‘The midterm exams are coming up soon, so I need to study in advance from now on. … And erase thoughts of Allen a bit, too.’

Perhaps the students of the Political Science Department had similar thoughts as Nigel, as there were fewer empty seats in the library than usual.

And it was even more bustling than usual.

The reason was probably yesterday’s incident. In this damned ‘Imperial’ Academy, interesting and stimulating rumors spread in no time.

“… I heard he had a big fight with Evans yesterday.”

“What are you talking about…? Didn’t they hang out together every day? And of all people, with ‘that’ Evans?”

“He’s the one everyone wants to be friends with, but as expected~ There’s a reason why he’s the top student.”

Giggle, giggle.

‘… It’s starting again.’

Nigel sighed and skillfully gathered his belongings.

It had only been an hour since he changed seats, and this mess happened again.

But at least this time, the level of gossip was mild. The students from before had boasted about Nigel’s background, after all.

“… Ehehe, is it okay for classmates to gossip about each other like this?”

At that moment, a leisurely voice was heard from behind Nigel.

“And to a junior in our department at that?”

The owner of the voice, Oliver, the student council president of the Magic Department, winked at Nigel and then shifted his gaze.

“You two, you’re John and Sam from the Political Science Department, right? Let me think… Your first-year professor is Professor Cledian, right?”

“Hey…! Let’s go.”

“… Uh, yeah!”

The two boys’ faces turned bright red as they hurriedly packed their bags.

“Huh? Are you trying to leave without apologizing? What Professor Cledian hates the most is…”

“S-sorry!”

“Sorry, Nigel!”

The two quickly apologized to Nigel and rushed out of the library.

“As expected, life is tiring for capable people, right? Don’t you think so?”

Oliver looked down at Nigel with a smirk.

“Are you boasting about yourself?”

“To be precise, it’s a compliment to both of us. You and I are so capable that our abilities overflow to the point where we can’t hide them.”

Nigel chuckled at Oliver’s brazen and confident attitude and finished tidying up his seat.

“What’s wrong, freshman? I drove them away so you could study comfortably, but you’re suddenly packing your things.”

“The library requires silence. If you break the rules, you have to leave. I didn’t like how those kids kept saying weird things in the first place, so I endured it because it was against the rules. But thanks to you, senior, it’s all ruined now.”

Oliver shrugged as if he had done nothing wrong.

Nigel dragged the brazen Oliver out of the library as he was.

“As expected of our freshman. You’re strict about the rules, unlike any other department. So, where are you going to study now?”

“I don’t know. The lounge or the dormitory?”

“The lounge is hard to find a seat on weekends, and our dear Allen, whom you fought with yesterday, is in the lounge, you know?”

Nigel’s steps toward the lounge abruptly stopped.

“And in the dormitory, with the bed right next to the desk, it’s perfect for getting distracted, so you won’t be able to study properly, right? For example, thinking about Allen or something.”

It was annoying, but everything he said was true.

“But it’s not like we can break down the walls of locked classrooms and go in. We’ll have to put up with it.”

“Well then… There’s a place with no people, so it’s quiet and you can study without getting distracted. Want to go together?”

Nigel’s eyes lit up at Oliver’s sweet words.

“… Is this the place you were talking about, senior?”

“Yeah, there are no people, so it’s quiet, and the sunlight comes in well, making it perfect for studying, don’t you think?”

As soon as the door closed, Oliver sat on a chair in the Magic Department’s student council room and put his feet up on the meeting room table, examining documents.

Judging by how he immediately assumed that posture as soon as he sat down, it wasn’t something he had only done once or twice.

“Well… It is perfect.”

“If you want, you can use this place every weekend. You know the flowerpot at the entrance earlier? If you infuse mana into it, a key will come out of the flower. It’s a space exclusively for the Magic Department.”

Snap!

When Oliver snapped his fingers, a plate of cookies popped out of thin air.

Oliver picked up a cookie and pushed the plate toward Nigel.

“How did you do that?”

“That’s a privilege only for the student council.”

Crunch, Oliver bit into the cookie.

“And allowing you to use the student council room is a privilege of the student council president.”

Oliver smiled languidly as he brushed back his dark green hair, illuminated by the sunlight filtering through the glass window.

“What do you want?”

Nigel, who had taken a seat three spaces away from Oliver, crossed his arms and spoke.

“As expected of our freshman. You’re straightforward. What do you think is the reason I sought you out on this precious weekend?”

“Is it because of the penalty points I recently received?”

“No, no. Do you think I came to find you just because you broke curfew? Aren’t you underestimating me too much?”

Oliver fanned himself with the stack of documents in his hand.

‘… Then what the hell is his purpose?’

Nigel frowned as he took the full brunt of Oliver’s fanning.

“… That’s harsh, freshman. I’m hurt. Actually, I’ve mastered a magic that allows me to read people’s minds. It’s the topic of my graduation thesis.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

At the resolute response, Oliver clicked his tongue, tsk.

“Okay, I should respond seriously to a serious person.”

Oliver nodded his head and laboriously lifted his body, resting his chin on the desk.

“Until now, it was just goodwill. The real deal starts now. Have you ever heard of the Sword…”

“I won’t do it. I’ll be going now.”

Nigel promptly picked up his bag.

“Hey, at least hear me out until the end. Freshman, don’t you want to represent the students of our department and bring glory to the department? There’s a great opportunity called the Sword Tournament coming up next month!”

Nigel’s eyes became deader than a rotten fish.

‘Am I crazy to participate in an event that’s all about honor? If I was obsessed with honor, I would have run straight to the temple.’

“Hmm, okay. I understand well enough without you saying it. You have no interest in honor at all. I forgot that you were a commoner.”

Fortunately, before Nigel’s eyes could be filled with anger, Oliver spoke again.

“Oops, sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you. It’s just that I’ve been dealing with noble kids who live and die for honor, so I forgot.”

‘… This person is just like this by nature.’

Seeing how Oliver naturally dissed fellow nobles despite being a noble himself.

“Hmm… Okay. If you just participate in the Sword Tournament, I’ll grant you one wish within my power to fulfill. Even repair magic… might be difficult, but it’s possible. Ah, but I guess you don’t need it since you can break walls like breaking cookies, haha!”

“You didn’t call me here just to annoy me, did you?”

“Not at all. It’s a compliment, actually. The Sword Tournament is an age-old event that was born alongside the birth of Xienia, pitting our department, which excels in both intellect and academics, against those who only know how to wield a sword. Doesn’t it seem like an event made just for you?”

The Sword Tournament… He definitely remembered reading about it in the rulebook Oliver had distributed at the beginning of the semester.

“But it’s not an official event, right? I haven’t heard of such an event during the entrance ceremony.”

“As expected. You’re sharp, haha! It became an unofficial event 10 years ago because it was considered too violent!”

“Then I won’t do it.”

“Ehehe, I’ve already made arrangements with the other departments. Do you know how many students from the Swordsmanship Department said they wouldn’t participate in the Sword Tournament if you don’t? As expected, a certain someone’s department is quite popular.”

“I refuse. I don’t need honor, wishes, or popularity.”

Nigel put his bag on his back without hesitation and walked out.

What he truly desired was something that no one here could grant him anyway.

“… Then how about this? You’re interested in books, right? Especially about the temple.”

“…!”

Nigel, who had his hand on the doorknob, suddenly stopped and turned his head.

“… No wonder the department kids have been talking to me a lot lately. You told them to do it, senior.”

Oliver raised both hands, admitting his wrongdoing.

“Even though I may seem like I only enjoy fun and playing around, I’m not like my father. Do you know what my surname is?”

“… Oliver Welleader.”

His surname ‘Welleader’ originated from the word meaning well-read or well-versed.

“Yes, perhaps because of the name, my family has been in charge of the Imperial Library for generations. Everyone in the family is obsessed with books, except for me who dislikes them. Our family’s library… Don’t you want to see it?”

“…!”

Noticing Nigel’s wavering eyes, Oliver got up from his seat and leisurely approached him.

“You just need to shoot some mana at those sword-wielding idiots a few times and then you can go to our family’s library. Study comfortably in the student council room every weekend until the midterm exams are over. How about it? There’s nothing to lose, right?”

Oliver grinned and extended his right hand to Nigel.